Back To Basics

Okay I suddenly just felt like exploring my basics again and renewing some old knowledge about photography. (In a CIP kind of tone) Basically what we're doing today is Product Photography. And what I did was to test out different flash sources & diffusing/reflecting material to see which gives the best result. The materials used are as shown below:

1) NJC Family Tee (Dry-fit material)
2) NJC Step Up Tee (Cotton)
3) Grey Clipboard
4) A4 size white paper
5) White translucent plastic bag



A Gundam figurine was used. And all test shots are done with the 350D, 70-200mm f/2.8 L & 580EX External Flash on a tripod. Natural light shines in from the right of the figurine through my window. My ceiling is White & the wall at the back is alil like Light brownish.

Test Shot 1: Only Natural Lighting
Analysis: Lighting looks pretty even ('cause it's the Sun duh) but flat. Figurine does not stand out.


Test Shot 2: Direct Pop-up Flash
Analysis: Lighting is kinda harsh and produces ugly shadows at the back.


Test Shot 3: Pop-up Flash w/ White plastic bag over it.
Analysis: The flash is diffused a lil bit but still too harsh for my liking.


Test Shot 4: Pop-up Flash w/ NJ Family T (Single layer) over it
Analysis: Figurine is slightly underexposed. Diffusing material takes away too much light from the pop-up flash.


Test Shot 5: Pop-up Flash w/ NJ Family T (Double Layer)
Analysis: Okay it's even darker now. Out.


Test Shot 6: Pop-up Flash w/ NJ Step-Up T (Single Layer)
Analysis: Produces around the same result as the NJ Family T but lighting looks better.


Test Shot 7: Pop-up Flash with NJ Step-up T (Double Layer)
Analysis: More diffused. More underexposed too.


Test Shot 8: Direct External Flash
Analysis: Ouchie. Really harsh lighting/shadows produced. Photo looks a tat too overexposed too.


Test Shot 9: External Flash bounced to ceiling (at 90 degrees)
Analysis: Whee finally we don't see those shadows produced by the wings at the background. Lighting doesn't look as even as I would have liked it though. Nat Bed.


Test Shot 10: External Flash bounced to Wall at the back
Analysis: Lighting looks pretty nice. Shadows aren't too harsh. Nat bed.


Test Shot 11: External Flash bounced to White A4 size paper with on Grey Clipboard at the back
Analysis: Lighting is harsher than the previous. Shadows are definitely more pronounced.


That pretty much concluded my experiment. Personally, I found Test Shot 9 (Bounce to Ceiling) & 10 (Bounce to Wall) most pleasing. Surprisingly Test Shot 6 (Step-Up Single Layer) ended up not bad too; just abit underexposed. Test Shot 1 (Natural lighting) looks fine but cannot draw enough attention to the figurine as I would have wished because the lighting was too flat. In conclusion, I found Bouncing to Ceiling produced the most pleasing results. The following are shot using this method. (I readjusted the figurine a lil)







Okay hope that was fun for you. It was for me :)

Hello World

Hi I updated because Mei Ling wants to see something new here.

Okay I guess I shouldn't be pleasing ML. I would be doing such a disservice to myself. So it's been sometime since I was here. Life has been normal so far except for a few notable events. Work is taking up almost everyday of my hols; kinda defeats the purpose of getting a freelance job. ZL, Brother Chun and I are planning to take a weekend off before completing our last assignment. After that I intend to quit and find a new job. Preferably something that's not related to surveys.

Meantime, I'm pretty excited about getting my new earphones. I sacrificed hell lot of hours upgrading my iTunes just so that all the music are of high quality. Sacrificed Paramore Live in Singapore too. Perhaps my greatest regret of 2010 till I go army (I mean I won't know what'll happen in Army do I?). Zl & I conveniently popped by Jaben at The Aldephi while we were at Bugis shopping for clothes. I must admit I was quite blown away by 2 sets namely Futuresonic Atrios M5 and Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5eb, esp the latter. It's gonna be expensive (as always LOL).

I'm supposed to go for 08s12 class outing now but I guess I would take sometime at home to play abit of drums. I feel that my playing has come to a standstill. (Well in fact...honestly I think it hasn't improved much since Prelims and As). I've made a few resolutions for Drumming this year (valid till before Army) but I'm not entirely sure if I can do it or whether I'm practising correctly. I seriously need a mentor/teacher. I feel so inconfident with my craft. Zac Farro of Paramore is my short-term drum idol for the time being. He plays with so much confidence live! Improvising really cool fill-ins during live shows and what not. Can I ever play like this with enough practice? :(

On the other hand...my Photog is really kinda gonecase now. I'm seriously suspecting if I'm even of photography-material. I've almost zero art genes and currently I'm anytime more passionate about music than the art of painting with light. It doesn't help that recently I just threw a hell of my fortune into a damn expensive sh*t. I really need some serious thinking.

Okay followers. That's quite a plentiful isn't it? I got this feeling that life doesn't begin until I start working hard for it.

Think of me when you're out, when you're out there

I'll beg you nice from my knees

And when the world treats you way too fairly

Well, it's a shame I'm a dream

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

I think I'll pace my apartment a few times

And fall asleep on the couch

And wake up early to black and white reruns

That escaped from the mouth, oh, oh

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

I could follow you to the beginning

Just to relive the start

And maybe then we'll remember to slow down

And all of our favorite parts

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

All I wanted was you

All I Wanted - Paramore

Still missing you alot.